The Seat of Consciousness is in the Heart
In Ayurveda, Sadhaka Pitta is in charge of our emotional state, and connects our mind to our heart. This also includes the nervous system, hormones and the brain.
Sadhaka Pitta connects the heart and mind together so that the two can communicate with each other. My beloved teacher of Ayurveda, Vaidya Mishra taught extensively on the importance of Sadhaka Pitta balance so that the heart lotus could remain open offering us the wisdom fromthe light of our soul streaming forth from the gem in the center of our chest.
Sadhaka pitta has an inward movement. This allows us to be able to digest and transform our external experiences into our inner experiential wisdom. Sadhaka Pitta distinguishes truth from the perceptions of the senses. This energy is responsible for things such as desire, drive, decisiveness, discrimination, intelligence, contentment, motivation, self-confidence, memory, emotional balance, and even spirituality. Sadhaka Pitta helps us fulfill both our material and spiritual goals in life.
In anatomical terms, Sadhaka Pitta subdosha includes the neuro-transmitters responsible for dopamine and serotonin. It is responsible for homeostasis (regulating body temperature) and regulating the hypothalamus (which controls important hormones and the nervous system) in the brain. Unbalanced Sadhaka pitta essentially means imbalanced hormones and potentially volatile emotions.
Like agni, sadhaka pitta is an internal fire that mentally metabolizes our experiences for us. If it’s too low, our experiences will take a long time for us to come to terms with. If the sadhaka pitta fire is too high, it can explode and makes a person behave in crazy, irrational ways.
When your sadhaka pitta is in balance, you will feel blissful and centered. You will have a balanced and even temperament.
But just as junk foods can weaken our digestive fire, poor lifestyle choices and stress can also weaken our Sadhaka Pitta and disrupt the connection between heart and mind.
When your sadhaka pitta is out of balance, due to emotional stress, excess fire, or hunger, you will experience wild mood swings, from irritability to moodiness, anger, and even sadness. You may also have pitta-style depression, which includes being domineering, controlling, intolerant, critical (of self and others), intolerant and having the inability to concentrate. There may also be pitta insomnia (waking up early in the morning with lots of energy), or inflammatory conditions, such as allergies, dermatitis, heartburn or diarrhea.
Rose is cooling and balancing for pitta. It enhances the coordination between the heart (sadhaka pitta) and the mind (prana vata). Rose has traditionally been used to help depression and anxiety.
Rose petal jam or rose water can be taken, or cooked with. Use rose water spritzer for the face to cool down. Perhaps this is why the rose is a symbol for the heart – the two are intimately connected. Rose enhances positive feelings, especially love. It is especially good in summer when pitta is high, but is balancing to all doshas.